Welp, this is gonna be one huge-ass part, since it’s time for Japanese. 
I’m sure a lot of people are looking forward to it. This took quite a while to take pictures of and write, so hopefully it’s to your liking. 
I will add the same quote again, which I’ll do for all parts:
The first seven parts were Chinese (click here to go to that part); Dutch (click here to go to that part); English (click here to go to that part); French (click here to go to that part); German (click here to go to that part); Italian (click here to go to that part); and Polish (click here to go to that part).
Today we have Japanese, the country where it all started. Rightfully so, it is therefore the language with the most Pikachu cards, a whopping total of 333 at time of writing, of which I’m missing just 6. It is therefore my least completed language (yes, even when we look at percentage, which is at 98.0% 
). The ones I’m missing are the SNAP Photo Contest one; four out of six Japanese Art Academy cards; and the 1998 Ivy Pikachu reprint (and yes, you’ve read that correctly, the unlimited E1 isn’t among them - I currently have it incoming! 
).
Japanese:
Let me start with a picture of all Japanese Pikachu cards in my collection:
Just like the English part I will go over all sets, but won’t go over every Deck and promo release unless it contains a Pikachu.
The first (Japanese) TCG cards were the Glossy Pikachu and Jigglypuff promos inserted in the CoroCoro Comic issue of November 1997, released on October 15th, 1997. This Pikachu was glossy, and has an error where it mentions Ken Sugimori as illustrator, even though Keiji Kinebuchi is the illustrator of this artwork. Glossy refers to a thin laminated front; glossy cards are usually put upside down in a peelable piece of cardboard, and then inserted in magazines or available in vending machines.
A non-Glossy version of this Pikachu and the Jigglypuff, where the Pikachu was corrected with the intended Keiji Kinebuchi illustrator credit, was inserted in the Easily Understand How to Play Pokémon Cards magazine, released on November 30th, 1996.
And there is also a third version of this card; one which is both glossy and has corrected Keiji Kinebuchi illustrator. Unfortunately, this is one of the missing Pikachu cards in my collection, so I’m unable to show my copy of it here (yet).
Five days later, on October 20th, 1996, the Expansion Pack was released. At the time, Pokémon was still called Pocket Monsters in Japan, and all cards you see here feature the old Japanese back. This first set contained the Base Set Pikachu artwork, and this set was released both without rarity symbol (more commonly known as No Rarity) and with rarity symbol.
Then on March 5th, 1997 the second Jungle set was released, which also contained a Pikachu card (with rarity symbol).
Then on June 15th, 1997 the very first Jumbo Pokémon card was released. This Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and Clefairy Jumbo was an insert in the CoroCoro Comic July 1997 volume. It’s also still the only Colorless-Type Pikachu card.
Then on June 21st, 1997 the third Mystery of the Fossils set was released. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
After that we had a non-Glossy Surfing Pikachu promo with Mount Fuji and a train in the background, given to people who took part in JR East Pokémon Stamp Rally between August 9 and 17, 1997. Participating people had two days to collect stamps from each train station along the Yamanote Line in special stamp books, where this Pikachu and another Mew promo card required stamps from all 30 train stations.
Around the same time, on August 15th, 1997, a glossy Surfing Pikachu promo (without Mount Fuji or train) was an insert in the CoroCoro comic September 1997 volume.
Two months later on October 15th, 1997, a glossy Flying Pikachu promo was another insert in a CoroCoro Comic, this time the November 1997 volume.
Between October and December 1997, although I’m not sure what day it started exactly, there was also the Toyota Auto Campaign. A Pikachu card, along with an Arcanine card, came sealed in a card booklet presented to visitors at participating dealerships. (This artwork may look familiar, since it’s the same Ken Sugimori artwork as the #4 WotC WB Promo, except with a different background. For those who don’t know, all Ken Sugimori backgrounds are just stock images, of which loads can be found on sozaijiten.com.)
Then on November 21st, 1997 the Rocket Gang set was released, which didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Next, first released on December 7th, 1997, we have the same Pikachu as the Toyota promo above, but with a more well-known background. This glossy Pikachu was together with a Mewtwo and Mew available for purchase at venues that hosted the 7th Next Generation World Hobby Fair. These events took place at the Fukuoka Dome (in Fukuoka) on December 7th, 1997; at Makuhari Messe (in Chiba) on January 10th and 11th, 1998; at the Kyocera Dome, Osaka (in Osaka) on February 1st, 1998; at the Sapporo Community Dome (in Sapporo) on February 8th, 1998; and at the Nagoya Dome (in Nagoya) on February 15th, 1998. These venues also hosted the regional Lizardon (Japanese name for Charizard) Mega Battle tournaments on the same dates. These Pikachu, Mew, and Mewtwo promos are also known as the ‘Vending Series #00’, since they came in a similar cardboard packaging as the Vending Machine sets, which we’ll talk about below.
This same artwork was reprinted as non-Glossy without rarity symbol in the Red Deck of the Quick Starter Gift Set, released on December 4th, 1998. These Red and Green decks, based on the Japanese Pokémon games (which is Red and Blue in English, but Red and Green in Japanese), contained reprints of the Vending Machine sets, which as mentioned earlier, we’ll talk about below.
On March 23rd, 1998, the Vending Machine Series 1 (Blue) was released. Six different sheets, each containing four cards of the set, were available at random from vending machines. Since they were peelable, all of them are glossy (with rarity symbols). This first Vending Machine set also contained the following Pikachu.
This Pikachu was just like the card on the right above reprinted in the Red Deck of the Quick Starter Gift Set on December 4th, 1998, also as non-Glossy and without rarity symbol.
On May 15th, 1998, we had another CoroCoro insert in the June 1998 volume. This month’s volume contained the Pikachu Summer’s Vacation Jumbo promo, the second Jumbo Pikachu card (and fourth Jumbo card in general).
Next on June 17th, 1998 we had the Vending Machine Series 2 (Red). This was again six random sets of four cards, but this set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
On July 25th, 1998, the Kuchiba City Gym Deck was released. Kuchiba is the Japanese name for Lt. Surge’s. This theme deck contained two Pikachu cards, both lacking the rarity symbol.
One of those Pikachu cards (the one with the English Gym Challenge artwork) was reprinted in the first Gym set, Leaders’ Stadium, released on October 24th, 1998. This Pikachu did have a rarity symbol.
Between November 1st and 31st, 1998, another Flying Pikachu promo was distributed by All Nippon Airlines, this time featuring a plane in comparison to the previously shown Glossy Flying Pikachu. Passengers flying in conjunction with the “Get in a Jet! Double Chance Campaign” could redeem two domestic boarding pass stubs for this Flying Pikachu promo and a Dragonite promo. Five thousand of those participating passengers were also selected by lottery to receive either a childern’s size ANA Pokémon Jet Stadium Jumper or a Game Boy Color.
On November 5th, 1998, the All Card Calendar was released in celebration of the second anniversary of the Pocket Monsters TCG, which contained a Holofoil Birthday Pikachu promo.
Then on November 24th, 1998, the final Vending Machines Series 3 (Green) was released. This set was larger than the previous two Vending Machine sets since it included 17 special cards in addition to the 36 normal cards. There were a total of 18 4-card unpeeled sheets, with some cards being present in multiple sheets. One of the special cards was Ooyama’s Pikachu, which is completely hand-drawn including the border (by illustrator OOYAMA, hence the name). The special cards in this Vending Machine set also have a different back of the card, unique to just these cards.
On May 28th, 1999 the Pokémon Card Trainers volume 1 magazine was released, which contained a glossy Pikachu promo with an artwork from the Pokémon Snap game. It therefore also mentions ‘Photo.’ instead of ‘Illus.’ at the bottom of the card.
Also in May 1999, the CoroCoro Best Photo Contest was held, which invited CoroCoro Comic readers to take interesting pictures of Pokémon in the recently released Pokémon Snap game. The top five entries had their artwork featured on reprints of the Expansion Pack, whom each received 20 copies of their card. These five cards included a Pikachu, which is by far the rarest Pikachu card that exist, and is therefore also missing in my collection. With just 20 copies from 1999, as well as a few extra copies, this card is well above my paygrade, and probably the only card I don’t think I’ll ever be able to add to my Pikachu collection unless I win the lottery just before one is coincidentally put up for sale.
Around that same time in May 1999, the TV Tokyo variety show 64 Mario Stadium held a similar Best Photo Contest. The top five winners had their artwork featured on reprints of the Expansion Pack again, but each winner received just 15 copies of their card instead of 20. These five cards didn’t included a Pikachu.
Between June 1st and 31st, 1999, another Flying Pikachu promo was distributed by All Nippon Airlines. Just like the previous ANA Flying Pikachu promo, passengers flying in conjunction with the “Everyone’s Happy Campaign” could redeem two domestic boarding pass stubs for this Flying Pikachu and an Articuno promo. These boarding passes were required to be affixed to special postcards and mailed to Media Factory. The postcards could be obtained from airport counters or from the ANA branch office.
On June 25th, 1999, the second Japanese Gym set was released: Challenge from the Darkness. This again didn’t contain any Pikachu cards.
On July 17th, 1999, the Tropical Island and Rainbow Island mini sets were released, each containing nine cards. Neither of these sets contained a Pikachu card (although the larger artwork of the Riverside section did contain a Pikachu, partially visible in the artwork of the Togepi card).
On July 30th, 1999, the Intro Pack was released, which contained two decks with Bulbasaur and Squirtle as main theme. The Bulbasaur Deck contained two Pikachu cards, which were reprints from the Expansion Pack and Toyoto promo artworks, with numbers 12 and 40 respectively.
Then on February 4th, 2000, the first Neo era set was released: Gold, Silver, to a New World…, which also contained a Pikachu card.
Then in April 2000, inside the May 2000 volume of the Learning Kindergarten magazine, the first Teach/Tryout Set was inserted, along with a poster. This Teach/Tryout set contained ten cards, including the Expansion Pack Pikachu. As the name suggests, Teach/Tryout Sets were given to children as introduction to the TCG. These cards are larger than regular-sized cards, but smaller than Jumbo cards. The texts on the cards explain what to do with the attacks, in a matter that’s easy to understand for kids. It also only uses the hiragana alphabet, instead of a mixture of hiragana and katakana as is usually the case in Japanese texts. (Hiragana is the default Japanese alphabet which kids learn first, containing 48 characters; Katakana contains an additional 46 characters; and Kanji contains more than 50,000 additional characters originating from the Chinese alphabet, although even more adult native speakers don’t know anywhere near this number.)
On July 6th, 2000, the Pikachu & Pichu Jumbo promo card was included inside the Bassatsu CoroCoro Comic Special August 2000 volume.
On July 7th, 2000, the second Neo set was released: Crossing the Ruins. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
The same applies to the third Neo set Awakening Legends on November 23rd, 2000.
On April 6th, 2001, the Intro Pack Neo was released. Just like the original Intro Pack, this contained two theme decks, focusing on the Grass and Water Starter Pokémon, this time from generation 2 instead of 1: Chikorita and Totodile. Both of these decks also had a small Side Deck. The Totodile main deck contained a Pikachu, again with the Expansion Pack artwork, this time the first card in the deck with number 1.
On November 20th, 2001 the fourth Neo set was released: Darkness, and to Light…, again without any Pikachu cards.
Then between July 13 and September 30, 2001 we had another All Nippon Airways promotion: the Pokémon Card e ANA Special '01 Version Campaign. Passengers flying on any domestic ANA flight in the timeframe could redeem their boarding passes for this 004/P Pikachu and a 005/P Larvitar promo.
The P Promos, with 001/P Kecleon being the first on July 7th, 2001, featured the new Japanese Pokémon back, instead of the old Pocket Monsters back. (This transition was later celebrated with the Touch Generation Change! promos at the New Garuga Parent/Child Tournament in February 2002.)
On July 19, 2001, the first Japanese e-Reader set was released: Pokémon VS, only released in 1st edition without an unlimited edition print run. Just like the Gym sets, this set had Pokémon from trainers. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Then on September 23rd, 2001, another birthday Pikachu promo was released with a different artwork than before. This card was an insert in the How I became a Pokémon Card volume 6 manga.
Next we had the Pokémon Web set on October 20th, 2001. This set contained a reprint of the original Surfing Pikachu, with number 025/048. This set was also released in both 1st and unlimited edition.
Then on December 1st, 2001 we had the Base Expansion Pack, primarily released in 1st edition. This set did contain a Pikachu card with number 016/128. This Pikachu was also available in the Pokémon-e Starter Deck, released on December 1st, 2001 as well.
I say primarily released in 1st edition, since there are some unlimited edition cards available:
- The 126/165 Ponyta in unlimited edition was an insert in the Pokémon Card Information volume 4 magazine, given for free at certain stores in November 2001.
- The 002/029 Bulbasaur; 005/029 Chikorita; 009/029 Charmander; 010/029 Charmander; 011/029 Charmeleon; 013/029 Cyndaquil; 022/029 Totodile; 023/029 Croconaw; and 024/029 Feraligatr from the Pokémon-e Starter Deck have been seen in unlimited edition, as well as the 016/128 Pikachu; 028/128 Clefairy; 029/128 Meowth; 079/128 Charizard; and 082/128 Pichu. We know from a Japanese seller that he received the unlimited edition 010/029 Charmander as a consolation prize in a lottery for a Pokémon Card GB2 Game Boy Color game, which he entered after buying for at least 500 Japanese Yen at a neighborhood JUSCO (Japan United Stores Company), the largest shopping franchise in Japan with retail outlets throughout the country. There have also been some rumors that fifty unlimited edition Pokémon-e Starter Decks were distributed at a coloring contest event in 2002, although it’s weird we’ve only seen these couple of cards (each have been seen at least four times, with the Pichu even 25 times), and none of the others in the deck. Overall, these unlimited edition E1 cards, with the sole exception of the Ponyta, are still surrounded in a lot of mystery.
(Note: the unlimited edition E1 Pikachu isn’t in the picture below, because I currently have it incoming. Very happy to finally have been able to purchase this card after searching for it for the past seven years. All my ‘Pikachu around the World’ parts will later on be updated, including the picture below.)
Next between January 26 and February 24, 2002, the McDonald’s Pokémon-e Minimum Pack was released. A pack of six cards was included in Happy Meals at Japanese McDonald’s restaurants, each containing at least one Holofoil card and one Energy card. This mini set contained 18 cards, and an additional six Energy cards (which were available as both Holofoil and non-Holo Energy cards), including a Holofoil Pikachu with number 010/018.
At the same time, between January 26 and February 24, 2002, five additional non-Holo promos were released, including a Pikachu with number 021/P.
On March 8th, 2002 we had The Town on No Map set. This set was released in both 1st and unlimited edition, but didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
The next set on May 24, 2002, Wind from the Sea, didn’t contained any Pikachu card either. It was again released in both 1st and unlimited edition.
Then in July and August 2002, the 038/P Pikachu promo was released. This card was a Pokémon Festa 2002: Orienteering commemoration prize. The Battle Festa 2002 events were held at different venues, a number of which also coincided with Battle Road Summer 2002 tournaments: Sapporo Community Dome (in Sapporo) on July 20th, 2002; Tokyo International Exhibition Center (in Tokyo) on July 27th and 28th, 2002; Port Messe Nagoya (in Nagoya) on July 31st, 2002; Intex Osaka (in Osaka) on August 3rd and 4th, 2002; and West Japan General Exhibition Center (in Fukuoka) on August 11th, 2002.
This card was reprinted with a slightly modified artwork (by the same illustrator) as 044/P promo, which was one of six cards available (042/P through 047/P) through the Pokemon Happy Adventure Rally 2002, which ran on the JW East Yamanote train line between August 3 and 18, 2002. The card could be obtained at a booth present at Tokyo Station.
On August 23rd, 2002, the Split Earth set was released, available in both 1st and unlimited edition. This set did contain a Pikachu card with number 033/088.
On October 4th, 2002, the last Japanese s-Series era set was released, Mysterious Mountains. This set was again printed in both 1st and unlimited edition, but didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
The first set of the ADV era, ADV Expansion Pack, didn’t contain any Pikachu cards either. This set was available in both 1st and unlimited edition, and released on January 31st, 2003.
The second ADV era Japanese set was released on April 18th, 2003 by the name Miracle of the Desert. This set did contain a Pikachu. This set is again printed in both 1st and unlimited edition, but since the ADV era the Japanese cards contained multiple codes for non-Holo Commons and Uncommons, just like they do in English and other languages. In Japanese, Uncommons still have two codes, but Commons will have four distinct codes available. This single 022/053 Pikachu therefore has eight different cards in this set.
Next on June 25th, 2003, we had the Rulers of the Heavens set. This set was again released in both 1st and unlimited edition, with different codes where applicable. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
On that same date, June 25th, 2003, we did have the 023/ADV-P and 024/ADV-P Pikachu promo cards. People who purchased a bottle of Coca-Cola Vanilla, Sprite Classic, Ambasa Sour White, Fanta Fruit Punch, or Fanta Melon Soda at participating 7-Eleven stores were given one of 21 possible cards. This Pokémon Fair campaign started at June 25th, 2003 until stock lasted.
On October 24th, 2003, the Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions set was released. This set didn’t contain any different codes, but was released in both 1st and unlimited edition. The set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
On January 16th, 2004 the Undone Seal set was released, again without any Pikachu cards, and again printed in both 1st and unlimited edition with multiple codes available where applicable.
The Flight of Legends set on January 9th, 2004, the first set of the PCG era, did contain a Pikachu card with number 037/082. Again printed in both 1st and unlimited edition, with four codes for Commons, so just like the Miracle of the Desert set of the ADV era there are eight of these Pikachu cards in this Japanese set:
Then in February 2004 we had the 057/ADV-P promo Pikachu, released as part of the Meiji Chocolate campaign.
The next set, Clash of the Blue Sky on July 1st, 2004, didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Nor did the Rocket Gang Strikes Back set from October 15th, 2004.
Next on January 16th, 2005 we had the Quick Construction Packs, including a Lightning Quick Construction Pack which contains a Pikachu with number 001/015, released in both 1st and unlimited edition.
The unlimited edition version of this card was also released with golden WHF stamp, given at the 21st Next Generation World Hobby Fair in January and February of 2005. The card came in this brochure, which contains some advertisements about the Quick Construction Packs at the inside, as well as a mystery Yokohama Pokémon Center promo on March 5th, 2005 (which is the 037/PCG-P Treecko) and what looks like a Pokémon game on February 2nd, 2005.
On March 18th, 2005 we had the opening of the PokéPark theme park in Naroya, Japan. Two Premium Files, PokéPark Forest and PokéPark Blue were released, each containing nine Holofoil cards. The PokéPark Forest contains the 004/009 PokéPark’s Pikachu card.
On that same day, March 18th, 2005, we had another PokéPark’s Pikachu. This non-Holo 043/PCG-P promo was given to those who rode the Pikachu Forest attraction in the new PokéPark throughout March 18 to 31, 2005. This Pikachu promo is from an unknown artist, since the Pikachu Forest attraction logo covers the illustrator on the card. Other PokéPark PCG-P promos (038/PCG-P through 050/PCG-P) were given at the other attractions in the PokéPark during that same time period.
On April 8th, 2005 the Golden Sky, Silvery Ocean was released. Again in both 1st and unlimited edition with different codes, but again a set without Pikachu cards.
The same applies to the Mirage Forest set on June 30th, 2005.
Then in June 2005 we also had another Meiji Chocolate campaign with 13 PCG-P promos (063/PCG-P through 075/PCG-P), including the 068/PCG-P Pikachu promo.
Then on July 15th, 2005 the Master Kit Bulbasaur and Torchic Quarter decks were released. The Bulbasaur deck contains a Pikachu with number 004/015, released in both 1st and unlimited edition.
In July 2005 there was also the McDonald’s promotion with 10 non-Holo PCG-P glossy promos (081/PCG-P through 090/PCG-P), including the 084/PCG-P Pikachu.
On October 28th, 2005 the Holon Research Tower set was released, again without any Pikachu cards.
In October 2005 we also had yet another Meiji Chocolate campaign with 12 PCG-P promos, including the 112/PCG-P Pikachu.
In October and November 2005 (I couldn’t find the exact dates nor places) there was the Battle Road Autumn 2005 tournaments. Participants would receive a 113/PCG-P Pikachu promo, and participants who won the third stage (out of six) also received the same 113/PCG-P Pikachu promo, but this time with golden stamp.
On November 16th, 2005 the Gift Box with Mew, Lucario, Crawdaunt, and Mightyena Quarter Decks were released, including two Gold Star Pokémon: Mewtwo and Pikachu. This 001/002 Gold Star Pikachu is the only Pikachu TCG card depicturing its shiny variant thus far.
On December 15th, 2005 a glossy Pikachu promo was included in the Pokémon Wonderland volume 6 magazine, with number 118/PCG-P.
Then On January 27th, 2006 the Holon Phantom set was released, in both 1st and unlimited edition, but no longer with different ex era codes. This set did contain a Pikachu card with number 041/052.
Then in February 2006 we had another McDonald’s promotion, with 10 PCG-P promos (119/PCG-P through 128/PCG-P), including a Pikachu with number 123/PCG-P.
On March 10th, 2006 the Miracle Crystal set was released, without any Pikachu cards.
The same applied to the Offense and Defense of the Furthest Ends on June 29th, 2006.
Then between July 1 and August 31, 2006 there was the Pika Summer Trip campaign. Passengers flying on any domestic All Nippon Airways flight could redeem their boarding passes for the 153/PCG-P Pikachu and 154/PCG-P Sea’s Manaphy promos.
Then on March 30th, 2006, the first set of the DP era was released: Space-Time Creation. This set, also released in both 1st and unlimited edition, didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Almost a year later, on January 14, 2007, the 10th Movie Commemoration Set was available for purchase at the 2007 World Hobby Fair. This commemorative set was later on also released in theaters (on July 14th, 2007) and as commercial release (on August 3rd, 2007). This mini set of 11 cards didn’t contain any Pikachu cards.
The second DP era set, Secret of the Lakes, released on March 2nd, 2007, did contain a Pikachu card with number DPBP#026. This DPBP stands for Diamond & Pearl Battle Pokédex number, which is a modified Pokédex for the era, where evolutions are grouped together despite being from different generations. This is why Pikachu is #026 despite being number 25 in the National Pokédex, because the Pichu is placed on front of it.
That same day, on March 2nd, 2007, the Rampardos the Attacker and Bastiodon the Defender blister half decks were released containing new artworks. The Rampardos the Attacker deck contains a Pikachu card. This Pikachu card, also with number DPBP#026 and DP2 as set symbol, are the same two Pikachu cards as in the artwork above from the Secret of the Lakes set, but from a different perspective.
During the Battle Road Spring in 2007, the 025/DP-P Pikachu as well as 026/DP-P Gible promos were given as participation prize. These tournaments were held on March 17th and 18th, 2007 in Kansai A conference: Asia & Pacific Trade Center (ATC) (in Osaka); on March 25th in Tōhoku conference: Aztec Museum (in Sendai); on March 25th, 2007 in Kyūshū conference: Fukuoka Fashion Building (in Fukuoka); on March 31st and April 1st, 2007 in Kantō A conference: Tokyo Ryutsu Center (in Tokyo); on April 1st, 2007 as well in Hokkaidō conference: Sapporo Convention Center (in Sapporo); on April 8th, 2007 in Chūbu conference: Nagoya Trade & Industry Center (in Nagoya); and on April 8th, 2007 as well in Chūgoku/Shikoku conference: Hiroshima Industrial Hall (in Hiroshima). Both these cards were again given as participation prize at the Challenge Hiroba event in November 2008.
Then between June 15th and July 1st, 2007 Japanese players could purchase packs from the 1st edition World Champions Pack set, containing fifteen cards each. This set is based on the English EX Power Keepers set of February 14th, 2007; one of the few exceptions where the English set was released before the Japanese one. Because the cards in the set could only be purchased by Japanese players for a two week period, and the cards itself weren’t the best play-wise, not many have been purchased at the time. One interesting thing about this set: all non-Holo Rares, Holofoil Rares, and Ultra Rares (including three Gold Stars Eeveelutions) had an equal pull rate, causing certain non-Holo Rares to be even harder to find for sale than the Gold Stars, since those are more popular to put up for sale. This set contains a Pikachu with number 023/108.
The unlimited edition versions of these same fifteen card packs are one of the rarest Japanese set cards available, probably only second after the unlimited edition E1 cards mentioned earlier (and perhaps the unlimited edition L1 set from the HGSS era, which we’re going to briefly discuss later on; although a.f.a.i.k. only the three non-Holo generations 2 starter Pokémon are available for that set in unlimited edition). The unlimited edition World Champions Pack fifteen card packs could only be purchased at the 2008 Battle Road Spring events in March and April of 2008. Originally five of such events were planned: on March 23rd, 2008 in Hokkaidō conference: Sapporo Park Hotel (in Sapporo); on March 29th and 30th, 2008 in Kansai conference: Asia & Pacific Trade Center (ATC) (in Osaka); on April 12th and 13th, 2008 in Kantō conference: Sunshine City (in Tokyo); on April 20th, 2008 in Chūbū conference: Nagoya Congress Center (in Nayoya); and on April 29th, 2008 in Kyūshū conference: Fukuoka Kokusai Center (in Fukuoka). But due to received bomb threads, three out of five events were cancelled, and only the two Battle Road Spring 2008 events held in March 2008 were being held. Because of this, the distribution and population of this unlimited edition set, as well as the Cynthia’s Feelings and Miracle Diamond promos, are lower than originally planned. Even if those three events weren’t cancelled, this unlimited edition set would still have been among the rarest out there, but because of the cancelled events it’s even rarer. Especially non-Holo Rares or certain Holofoil Rares are very hard to find, which is also why it was the last card I was missing in my Seviper collection, which is now 100% complete after acquiring that unlimited edition World Championship Pack Seviper.
Next we have the Shining Darkness set on July 5th, 2007, which didn’t contain any Pikachu cards.
From July 8th, 2007 for as long as stock lasted, five DP-P promo cards (047/DP-P through 051/DP-P) were available as part of the Trade Please DP event at participating stores. Visitors could trade any one Pokémon TCG card (including non-Japanese and old back Japanese cards, but excluding Trainer and Energy cards) for one of these five promo cards. The Pikachu has the number 048/DP-P, and has the same artwork as the Pikachu in the Japanese Secret of the Lakes set.
During the Battle Road Summer 2007 events the 057/DP-P Holofoil Pikachu promo, with the same artwork as the Pikachu in the Rampardos the Attacker deck, was given to One Day Battle and Entry Battle participants. The Battle Road Summer 2007 events were held on July 16th and 16th, 2007 in Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome (in Fukuoka); on July 21st and 22nd, 2007 in the Aztec Museum (in Sendai); on July 28th and 29th, 2007 in the Sapporo Community Dome (in Sapporo); on August 4th and 5th, 2007 in Makuhari Messe (in Chiba); on August 11th and 12th, 2007 in Port Messe Nagoya (in Nagoya); on August 18th and 19th at Kantō B regional tournaments at the Pacifico Yokohama (in Yokohama); on August 25th and 26th, 2007 in Hiroshima Sun Plaza (in Hiroshima); and on August 31st, September 1st, and September 2nd, 2007 in Kyocera Dome Osaka (in Osaka).
Next we had the paired Moonlit Pursuit and Dawn Dash sets, released on October 26th, 2007. Both of these sets were once again released in both 1st and unlimited edition, and neither contained a Pikachu card.
Next on November 30th, 2007 we had the Entry Pack '08 and Entry Pack '08 DX. The regular one contained three half decks: Torterra; Infernape; and Empoleon, released in both 1st and unlimited edition. And the Deluxe version contained the same three decks, as well as an additional fourth one focusing Raichu. The Deluxe version was only released in unlimited edition, without any 1st edition print run.
On March 14th, 2008, another pair of sets was released again: Cry from the Mysterious and Temple of Anger. Both were again released in both 1st and unlimited edition, and didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Next on March 23rd, 2008 and March 29th and 30th, 2008, the 095/DP-P Pikachu Holofoil promo was given as participation prize during the earlier mentioned Battle Road Spring 2008 events (see unlimited edition World Champions Pack set above).
Then between June 16th and July 31st, 2008 until supplies ran out, five DP-P Pikachu promos were given to those who shopped at certain Pokémon Centers. The 098/DP-P Pikachu was given at the Pokémon Center in Tokyo; 099/DP-P at Yokohama; 100/DP-P at Osaka; 101/DP-P at Nagoya; and 102/DP-P at Fukuoka. The 102/DP-P is by far the hardest to find of the five, which could be caused by being the smallest city of the five.
Then on July 10th, 2008, the Intense Fight in the Destroyed Sky set was released. Again available in both 1st and unlimited edition, this set did contain a Pikachu card with number 024/092.
Next we have the 11th Movie Commemoration Set, released in theaters on July 19th, 2008 and commercial on August 1st, 2008. This movie commemorative mini set of nine cards did contain a Holofoil Pikachu card with number 003/009.
On July 31st, 2008, another Teach/Tryout Set was released. This 2008 set consisted of eight cards, a little smaller than the previous Teach/Tryout Set mentioned earlier from 2000, but still larger than regular TCG cards. These cards were included inside the Pokémon Fan Club Shogakukan Special volume 4 magazine, and included a Pikachu with the 1st edition Intense Flight in the Destroyed Sky 024/092 Pikachu.
Then in the Summer of 2008, 13 DP-P promo cards (109/DP-P through 122/DP-P) were released through various means in the Collection Challenge. The Holofoil Pikachu with number 113/DP-P was released as a Pokémon Platinum Quiz Rally prize, given to those who participated and completed the quiz at participating stores and Pokémon Centers between August 9 and 24, 2008.
Then on October 10th, 2008 the Galactic’s Conquest set was released. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards, but was once again printed in both 1st and unlimited edition.
On that same October 10th, 2008 day, the Captain Pikachu Holofoil Jumbo promo was released, to commemorate the moving of the Yokohama Pokémon Center.
Members of the Pokémon Saisuki (I Love Pokémon) Club, previously known as the Pokémon Players Club until April 2008, could earn AP (Action Points) by going to events, playing in tournaments, entering contests, answering surveys, participating in quizzes, etc. As members acquired points, they would advance higher in rank, and be awarded prize cards for certain amounts. Normal Rank members started at 0 AP; at 200 AP you’ve received Bronze Rank (without reward); at 400 AP you’ve received Silver Rank (again without reward); at 1200 AP you’ve received Gold Rank, along with either the 016/DPt-P Pikachu (between October 2008 and September 2009) or 019/L-P Pikachu (from September 2009 onward); at 3200 AP you’ve received Super Rank, along with either the 045/DPt-P Cresselia and 046/DPt-P Darkrai (from around mid-2008 until September 2009) or 020/L-P Cresselia and 021/L-P Darkrai (from September 2009 onward); at 5200 AP you’ve received Hyper Rank, along with the 044/L-P Raichu (from November 2009 onward); at 7200 AP you’ve received Special Rank, along with the 053/L-P Espeon and 054/L-P Umbreon (from March 2010 onward); and finally at 8600 AP you’ve received Master Rank, along with the 055/L-P Master’s Scroll (from June 2010 onward). Because of the shift from the DPt to LEGEND era in September 2009, the 016/DPt-P Pikachu is a lot rarer than the 019/L-P Pikachu because members had a much more limited amount of time to get the required amount of points; and the 045/DPt-P Cresselia and 046/DPt-P Darkrai might even be rarer than the 055/L-P Master’s Scroll itself, since only one copy of each have emerged thus far. As you may note in the side-by-side of both Pikachu below, not just the number has changed, but the layout was also updated between the DPt and LEGEND eras. (Here a picture of the brochure the 016/DPt-P Pikachu came in, sealed alongside an Energy card.)
Next on November 20th, 2008 we have the Gift Box DPt, with four half decks: Chimchar; Turtwig; Piplup; and Pikachu. This product was only released in unlimited edition, and the 004/015 Pikachu in the Pikachu Half Deck was included as both Cosmos Holofoil and non-Holo version.
On December 26th, 2008 the Bonds to the End of Time set was released. Available in both 1st and unlimited edition, this set contained three different Pikachu Ultra Rares: 088/090 Pikachu; 089/090 Surfing Pikachu; and 090/090 Flying Pikachu.
For a limited amount of time, near the end of 2008 and start of 2009 (I don’t know the exact dates), kids could go to the Pokémon Center in Tokyo on their birthday, and show their birth certificate as proof, in order to receive a Holofoil birthday Pikachu Jumbo promo.
Then on March 6th, 2009, the Beat of the Frontier set was released, without any Pikachu cards.
Then on April 18th, 2009, three Collection Packs were released for Shaymin LV.X, Mewtwo LV.X, and Regigigas LV.X respectively, of which the Shaymin LV.X Collection Pack contained a Pikachu with number 007/012, with a reprinted artwork from the earlier 113/DP-P promo. These packs were only released in unlimited edition.
Then on July 8th, 2009 the Advent of Arceus set was released. This set, released again in both 1st and unlimited edition, did contain a Pikachu card with number 031/090.
Two days later, on July 10th, 2009, the Melee! Pokémon Scramble × Pokémon Card Game mini set was released. This mini set, only released in unlimited edition, contained a non-Holo Pikachu with number 007/016. Three additional Secret Rare cards were released through an unknown promotion of the Pokémon Daisuki Club, which are the 017/016 Pachirisu, 018/016 Croagunk, and 019/016 Eevee.
Next on July 18th, 2009, the Movie Commemoration Random Pack was released. Unlike the previous commemorative promo mini sets or Half Decks that were released in the past, this collection was available through booster packs in the same manner as regular expansion releases, hence the “random” in the set name. This mini set contains a Pikachu M with number 012/022, one of the few TCG cards that features Ash in the artwork.
On that same day, July 18th, 2009, the Movie Commemoration Special Pack 2009 was released. This blister contains the 043/DPt-P Pikachu M LV.X and 044/DPt-P Machina Temple promos, one Advent of Arceus booster pack, and two Movie Commemoration Random Pack booster packs.
Then the LEGEND era started, with the first two sets being the HeartGold Collection and SoulSilver Collection on October 9th, 2009. This set was only released in 1st edition, although the three non-Holo generation 2 starter Pokémon (SoulSilver Collection 006/070 Chikorita; SoulSilver Collection 014/070 Cyndaquil; and HeartGold Collection 022/070 Totodile) and some of the LEGEND cards were available as unlimited edition, through an unknown promotion. Just like most English sets, cards in this Japanese set were also available as Reverse Holos. Unlike most English sets, this did also include the Ultra Rare Prime Pokémon.
On November 20th, 2009, four Battle Starter Decks were released, focusing on Torterra; Magmortar; Blastoise; and Raichu. These decks were only released in unlimited edition, and the Raichu Starter Deck contained a non-Holo Pikachu with number 001/011.
In October and November 2009, in kindergartens participating in the Pokémon Smile School campaign, a male and female Pikachu mascot would visit to teach kids to have a fun time and good manners. Along some other goodies, the kids were given a Teach/Tryout Set of eight cards, alongside a playmat. These eight Teach/Tryout Set cards of 2009 also included a Pikachu, which is similar as the earlier mentioned Teach/Tryout Set Pikachu of 2008, but with a different background color.
On February 11th, 2010, the Reviving Legends set was released. Just like the previous LEGEND era set, Reverse Holos are available. Unlike the previous set however, this set was released in both 1st and unlimited edition, although the unlimited edition cards were a lot shorter printed and harder to find. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
The smaller Lost Link set of April 16th, 2010 didn’t contained any Pikachu cards either. This mini set didn’t contained any Reverse Holos, and was only printed in unlimited edition.
The Clash at the Summit set, released on July 8th, 2010, was similar as the Reviving Legends set, in that it again had Reverse Holos; was printed in both 1st and unlimited editions, with the unlimited edition cards being a lot shorter printed and harder to find; and didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
That same day, on July 8th, 2010, the Japanese Pikachu World Collection 2010 was released. 7-11 and Pokémon Center stores in Japan also had a special version of this set, of which the packaging was green instead of blue. This special green set also had the Japanese Pikachu card replaced with a green background version instead of the default blue background.
This set of nine Pikachu cards in various languages was reprinted in English in November 2010. The English set was similar as the Japanese one, with the difference being the card back, as well as the copyright information at the bottom on the front.
On September 18th, 2010, the three times three cards of the Collection Sheet Journey Partners were released, focusing around the generation 5 starter Pokémon. These nine cards didn’t included a Pikachu card.
Then between August 16 and 29, 2010, the final L-P promo was released: 079/L-P Shopping Pikachu, given to all Pokémon Center shoppers in Japan.
From November 4th, 2010 to November 3rd, 2012, there was another Pokémon Center Birthday Campaign at the Japanese Pokémon Centers. In comparison to the previous birthday Pikachu Jumbo card, the rules were now a bit more lenient. People who visited participating Pokémon Centers on their birthday, or on one of seven days on either side of their birthday, would receive this Jumbo Pikachu card as well as some gifts. These gifts included an Audino for use in Pokémon Black and Pokémon White games, a special birthday ribbon sticker, as well as either 800 Japanese Yen discount on the Pokémon Black or Pokémon White game, or 10% discount for anything in the Pokémon Center store. Also unlike the previous birthday Pikachu, not just the birthday certificate was necessary as proof, since an insurance card, license, or password were accepted as proof of birthday as well. This Jumbo Pikachu card has HAPPY BIRTHDAY as golden stamp in the description of the card.
On December 17th, 2010 the Black Collection and White Collection sets were released, the first sets of the BW era. Although both sets were different, they did both contain the same 056/053 Secret Rare Pikachu, released in both 1st and unlimited edition.
On March 1st, 2011 another Teach/Tryout Set was released. These cards were smaller than previous Teach/Tryout sets, but still slightly larger than regular TCG cards. They also contain unique artworks, not found elsewhere on TCG cards. This March 2011 Teach/Tryout Set, consisting of six cards, were included in both the April 2011 issues of the Enfant magazine as well as Shougakkou Ichiensei magazine (which literally translates to Primary School First Year), of which the first was a subscription-only magazine, and the other was more widely available for sale. These six cards didn’t include a Pikachu card.
On July 15th, 2011 the Red Collection set was released. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu, and unlike a lot of other Japanese sets, it was never released in unlimited edition.
On July 18th, 2011, a second Teach/Tryout Set for 2011 was released. Similar in size as the ones from March 2011, and again six cards with unique artworks not found elsewhere in the TCG, these sets were distributed at Denny’s Restaurants. Customers with kids in primary school and younger could get this set, and play with them in the restaurant. These six cards did include a Pikachu. (Here the six cards still sealed in their original cardboard insert.)
Between July 23rd and August 28th, 2011, there as the Pokémon Summer Carnival event in Tokyo Tower. In specific weekends during this time frame, a Jumbo Pikachu card was given as prize to those who participated in the Beginner’s Classroom; Beginner’s Battle; How to Build a Deck Classroom; Parent and Child Tag Battle; and the elementary school Tournament Battle.
On September 16th, 2011, the Psycho Drive and Hail Blizzard sets were released. The Hail Blizzard set, released in both 1st and unlimited edition, contained a Pikachu with number 023/052.
On September 21st, 2011, the fifth and final Teach/Tryout Set was released. This September 2011 Teach/Tryout Set contained the same six cards as the March 2011 Teach/Tryout Set, but with a different colored background (just like how the 2008 and 2009 Teach/Tryout Set differed from one another). This September 2011 Teach/Tryout Set was included inside the CoroCoro Comic magazine of November 2011 (released on September 21st). The full title of this Teach/Tryout Set roughly translates to “CoroCoro Ichiban’s Special Pokémon Card Game BW Tryout Set”. Since it contains the same six cards as the March 2011 Teach/Tryout Set, it also didn’t contained a Pikachu card.
On October 29th, 2010, the Standard version of the Beginning Set was released, one for boys and one for girls. The cards were the same for both, but the boxes for girls had a different colored packaging, pink coin on the inside, etc. On November 20th, 2010 a Deluxe version of the Beginning Set was released. This was similar as the previous Standard version, except with a different holofoil coin and additional goodies: deck case; card sleeves; sticker sheet; notebook; metal case; etc. On August 5th, 2011 a Plus version was released. This time with an updated set symbol (HS+ instead of HS), although the cards were still roughly the same. And on November 18th, 2011 a Pikachu version of the Beginning Set was released. This set again contained a different coin, and has an unique set symbol as well (HSP). The cards in the decks themselves were still the same, but this Pikachu version included the 108/BW-P Pikachu promo in the same Bubble Holofoil as the Holofoil cards in the Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott themed half decks.
Then between December 4 and 9, 2011 to celebrate the opening of the Pokémon Center Tōhoku on December 4th, the 120/BW-P promo Pikachu was given to customers who purchased from the Pokémon Center store. This promo was distributed a second time at the same Pokémon Center between March 23rd and April 8th, 2012 during the Pikachu Festival. This release is also connected to the Pokémon with You support group, that works with children affected by the Tōhoku earthquake in March 2011. The Snivy is therefore depicted wearing a Muscle Band; Pikachu with an Effort Ribbon; and Victini with a Soothe Bell.
Next on December 16th, 2011 the Dark Rush set was released. This set was just like the earlier Red Collection set only released in 1st edition, and also didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Then on January 27, 2012 we had the Dragon Selection set. This set, which only contained Dragon-Type Pokémon, only contained holofoil cards. This mini set was only printed in 1st edition, and since Pikachu isn’t a Dragon-Type, it wasn’t included in the set.
On March 16th, 2012 we had the Dragon Blast and Dragon Blade sets, released in both 1st and unlimited edition, again without any Pikachu cards.
Then on April 20th, 2021 we had the National Beginning Set. Similar as the earlier mentioned Beginning Set, the National Beginning Set focused on the generation 5 starters Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott. These decks were only released in unlimited edition, and the Oshawott Half Deck contained a Pikachu with number 013/034.
Somewhere in May 2012, the 151/BW-P Pikachu and 152/BW-P Raichu promos were given to participants of the Pokémon Card Game Classroom deck building learning events. Those who participated in at least one session were rewarded the Pikachu promo card; and those who used that Pikachu in their deck and participated in another session were rewarded the Raichu promo card.
Although these artworks were originally planned to release in English inside Plasma Freeze Three Pack Blisters, but due to the cancellation of an English Landorus Box, the Landorus and Druddigon BW promos were included in those blister packs instead of the Pikachu and Raichu. Although online pictures of these English promos were updated to the Pokemon.com database on July 21st, 2014, by the end of that same night they removed them again, and these cards were never printed nor released in English.
On July 13th, 2012 the Freeze Bold and Cold Flare sets were released. Available in both 1st and unlimited edition, these set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
On July 26th, 2012 the Pokémon Card Game BW National Illustrated Encyclopedia was released, which included a non-Holo Pikachu promo with number 163/BW-P. This card had the same artwork as the previously released/mentioned 108/BW-P Pikachu promo.
On September 14th, 2012 the Plasma Gale set was released. Again available in both 1st and unlimited edition, but without any Pikachu cards.
On that same day, September 14th, 2012, the Master Deck Build Box EX was released, only released in unlimited edition. This deck also didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Then from November 4th, 2012 to October 11th, 2013 another birthday campaign with a different Jumbo birthday Pikachu was held at participating Pokémon Center stores, with similar goodies as the previous longer birthday campaign in 2010/2011. The HAPPY BIRTHDAY in the description of this Pikachu Jumbo was just printed, instead of holofoil stamped.
On November 16th, 2012 the Everyone’s Exciting Battle box was released. The box contained eight 15-card quarter decks combined in pairs, each focusing on a specific TCG Type, and each included an ‘Everyone’s Exciting Rule Card’ focusing a Gym Leader or Champion from the generation 5 series. This set had a total of 55 unique cards, including a Starfoil Reverse Holo Pikachu with number 016/047. This box was only released in unlimited edition.
On December 14th, 2012 the Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle sets were released. These sets were released in both 1st and unlimited edition, but didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
On February 1st, 2013 the Shiny Collection mini set was released. Just like the Beginning Set for Girls, this set was focused primarily towards girls. The packaging designs, card designs, and colors are all in a cuter style. This set, only released in 1st edition, did contain a Bubble Reverse Holo Pikachu card with Pikachu heads and hearts as pattern; this Pikachu card had number 007/020.
On March 15th, 2013 we had the Megalo Cannon set. Released in both 1st and unlimited edition, without any Pikachu cards.
Between March 20th and May 6th, 2013, another Jumbo Pikachu promo was given to anyone who purchased from the Nagoya Pokémon Center, to celebrate the relocation of this Pokémon Center, which reopened on March 20th.
A month later on April 20th, 2013, another Jumbo Pikachu card was released. Starting April 20th, 2013, customers who purchased products from participating BEAMS stores would receive either this Pikachu or a Mewtwo-EX Jumbo card, as long as stock lasted. These cards feature BEAMS stamps in the bottom-right of the artwork, as well as bottom-left of the card.
On June 8th, 2013, the Pokémon Center 15th Anniversary Premium Card Set box was released, which included the first Full Art Pikachu promo with number 229/BW-P.
On July 13th, 2013 the EX Battle Boost set was released. This set was printed in both 1st and unlimited edition, and also contained Reverse Holos like the three LEGEND era sets. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Somewhere in November 2013, more Pokémon Card Game Classroom deck building learning events took place. Just like the previously mentioned 151/BW-P Pikachu and 152/BW-P Raichu, the 001/XY-P Pikachu promos were given to participants after their first session, and the 002/XY-P Raichu were given to participants who included the Pikachu in their deck at their second session. These promos were the first Japanese XY promotional cards released.
On December 13th, 2013 the first two sets of the XY era were released: Collection X and Collection Y. The Collection X set contained a Pikachu card with number 022/060. This set was released in both 1st and unlimited edition, but the unlimited edition set was released more than 1.5 years after its 1st edition print run.
Next we had the Wild Blaze set on March 15th, 2014. Again available in both 1st and unlimited edition, this set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Between April 26th and May 6th, 2014, two unnumbered XY-P Starfoil Holofoil Pitch’s Pikachu promos were given to elementary school aged children who attended any J-League soccer session at one of the 40 clubs around Japan, named the J-League Family Join Days Campaign. Only one card could be obtained per session.
On June 14th, 2014, the Rising Fist set was released. This set also didn’t contained any Pikachu cards, and was once again available in both 1st and unlimited edition.
Somewhere in June 2014, another soccer-themed Pikachu promo was released. This Team Japan’s Pikachu with number 050/XY-P was an insert within the Pokémon New Mon! Summer 2014 Book.
In the weekends between July 19th and August 17th, 2013 the 056/XY-P PokéTV’s AD Pikachu promo was given to participants of the Pokémon Get TV’s Pokémon Summer Thanksgiving 2014, a special program for the show that was held in twelve locations around Japan. This is one of the few Pokémon TCG cards featuring real people, which in this case are the hosts of the Pokémon Get TV show, including the Pikachu mascot.
Around the same time, on July 19th, 20th, and 21st, 2014, a McDonald’s promotional campaign ran. Five XY-P promos (061/XY-P through 065/XY-P) were available during this campaign, including the 064/XY-P Pikachu. This Pikachu promo has the McDonald’s logo at the bottom-left corner of the card.
This same 064/XY-P Pikachu promo was one of five cards (the other four cards were 035/XY-P Fennekin; 065/XY-P Hawlucha; 105/XY-P Inkay; and 106/XY-P Meowth) included in special packs of Daiichi Choco Pan and Daiichi Ham Mayonnaise Pan, available from January 1st, 2015. This 064/XY-P Pikachu contained the Daiichi Pan Pokémon Pan logo at the bottom-right of the artwork instead.
A third 064/XY-P Pikachu promo was one of five cards (the other four cards were 013/XY-P Dedenne; 036/XY-P Froakie; 148/XY-P Chespin; and 149/XY-P Snorlax) included in Pokémon Furikake Mini Packs and Pokémon Curry <Pork & Corn Sweet> packs, available from early July 2015. This 064/XY-P Pikachu contained the Marumiya logo at the bottom-left of the card.
And finally a fourth 064/XY-P Pikachu, this time without any additional logos, was available during the Black Mega Gardevoir Campaign from June 17th to July 8th, 2016 at participating stores. Customers who purchased for 500 Japanese Yen or more on Pokémon products received a special pack containing one of four promotional cards (the other three cards were 034/XY-P Chespin; 249/XY-P Volcanion; and 250/XY-P Meowth), and a play mat featuring Shiny Mega Gardevoir.
Next we have the Phantom Gate set, released on September 13th, 2014. This set, released in both 1st and unlimited edition, didn’t had any Pikachu cards.
Then between August 9 and 17, 2014 there was the Pikachu Outbreak! at Yokohama Minatomirai event. More than one thousand Pikachu mascots were walking around at the Minato Mirai 21 business district in Yokohama, and there were many additional Pikachu-themed events taking place. Three different Pikachu promos, numbered 068/XY-P, 069/XY-P, and 070/XY-P were distributed at random to visitors at several locations: Sakuragichō Station; Minatomirai Station; Yokohama Landmark Tower; MARK IS Minatomirai; Yokohama Cosmo World; and Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. These three Pikachu promos are depicting different buildings and landmarks from the district.
Next we have the first Battle Festa Pikachu Full Art promo with number 090/XY-P. This card was given to participants of the Battle Festa event in 2014, at five different locations across Japan: ACT CITY Hamamatsu Exhibition Event Hall (in Shizuoka) on October 26th, 2014; Sunshine City Bunka Kaikan (in Tokyo) on November 1st and 2nd, 2014; Kumamoto City Distribution and Information Hall (in Kumamoto) on November 9th, 2014; Intex Osaka (in Osaka) on November 16th, 2014; and Dream Messe Miyahi (in Sendai) on November 24th, 2014.
Next we have another Jumbo Pikachu promo. This card was released as part of the Pokémon Christmas Fair at participating Toys “R” Us stores in Japan. From mid-November 2014, the card was given to the first 100,000 customers at each store that purchased for at least 3,000 Japanese Yen on Pokémon products. A Monster Collection Pikachu figure was also given to the first 50,000 customers that purchased for at least 5,000 Japanese Yen on Pokémon products at the same stores. All customers who purchased items during this campaign were also entered into a competition to win one of twenty Cosplay Pikachu Nintendo 3DS XL consoles.
Around the same period in mid-November 2014, the POKÉMON with YOU Wagon program in Yohoku took place, where a big earthquake took place on March 11th, 2011. The earthquake, and tsunami that followed, took the life of many people. This unnumbered XY-P Pikachu was given to children at this particularly heavy-hit region.
On December 12th, 2014 the new Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo store opened, after the Pokémon Center in Tokyo relocated from Hamamatsuchō to Ikebukuro. The 098/XY-P Mega Tokyo’s Pikachu promo was given to customers for any purchase, between December 12th, 2014 and January 16th, 2015.
Next we have the Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm sets, released on December 13th, 2014. These set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards, and were released in both 1st and unlimited edition.
That same day, the 099/XY-P Cosplay Pikachu and 100/XY-P Rayquaza promos were included in the Illust Collection Art Book. The Pikachu in this card were all female Pikachu, indicated by their heart-shaped tails.
Also throughout December 2014, four Warm Pikachu promos with numbers 094/XY-P through 097/XY-P were released as part of the Uniqlo Kids × Pokémon Card Game XY campaign. One card was included with any order of one of six children’s Pokémon Heat Tech shirts from participating Uniqlo stores. All four cards feature the Uniqlo logo at the bottom-left of the card.
On January 20th, 2015 the Magma Gang vs Aqua Gang: Double Crisis mini set was released, only printed in 1st edition. This set didn’t included any Pikachu cards.
Neither did the Emerald Break set, released on March 14th, 2015, and available in both 1st and unlimited edition.
Between December 13th, 2014 and February 1st, 2015, the submission period was open for the Japanese Pokémon Art Academy × Pokémon Card Game competition. There were two categories: Dress-Up Pikachu and Your Favorite Pokémon. Your Favorite Pokémon invited players to create an image of any Pokémon, and Cosplay Pikachu required players to portray a Pikachu in a costume of their design, inspired by the Cosplay Pikachu of the Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire games. These artworks had to be made in Free Paint mode in the Pokémon Art Academy game, and then uploaded to Miiverse in order to submit as part of the competition. Five winning entries in each of both categories were announced in March 2015 for the Japanese competition. Each of the winners received 100 copies of the card featuring their illustration. Because the Your Favorite Pokémon included a Pikachu as well, there are six Japanese unnumbered XY-P Art Academy Pikachu cards. Since some of the winners have yet to even sell a single copy, and there are only a handful of extra copies floating around, I currently only have two out of six Japanese Art Academy Pikachu cards. The ones I have are Y. Fujishima’s and Sayaka Maruyama’s, and I hope to add the other four of gogotake, pikamedia, Mame Akimaru, and Ginga one day in the future.
On June 20th, 2015 we had the next XY era set: Bandit Ring. This set, released in both 1st and unlimited edition, also didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
On June 26th, 2015, the Pretend Magikarp & Pretend Gyarados Pikachu Special Box was released, to celebrate the opening of Pokémon Center Hiroshima. This box included two Full Art cosplay Pikachu promos: Pretend Magikarp Pikachu with number 150/XY-P and Pretend Gyarados Pikachu with number 151/XY-P.
On July 18th, 2015 the Legendary Shine Collection mini set was released, only available in 1st edition. This set contained a Pikachu EX Ultra Rare with number 008/027.
A special bento box could be pre-ordered between June 22nd and July 28th, 2015 and picked up between July 18th and August 8th, 2015, at participating 7-Eleven stores throughout Japan for 1,371 Japanese Yen. This set came with a reusable Pikachu face bento box complete with pre-ordered lunch inside; reusable Pikachu chopsticks; a special Pikachu patterned handkerchief wrap; and a Pikachu promo with number 154/XY-P.
Also on July 18th, 2015, the Hoopa Movie Commemoration Special Pack was released in conjunction with the Japanese opening of Hoopa and the Clash of Ages movie in cinemas. This blister pack included a 156/XY-P Pikachu and 157/XY-P Hoopa promo in Sheen Holofoil.
Then on August 7th, 2015 the M Master Deck Build Box Speed Style and M Master Deck Build Box Power Style were released. All cards were reprints from prior sets or decks, but all had a new set symbol and number (with the exception of the basic Energy cards). The Speed Style box contained a Pikachu with number 011/049, which was a reprint from the earlier mentioned Collection X Pikachu.
On September 26th, 2015 the Blue Shock and Red Flash sets were released, the first sets of the XY BREAK era. Available only 1st edition, these sets didn’t included a Pikachu card.
Alongside these sets, the Raichu BREAK Evolution Pack and Noivern BREAK Evolution Pack were released. These packs served as an accessible method of introducing players to the BREAK Evolution mechanic that debuted in the accompanying Blue Shock and Red Flash sets. The Raichu BREAK Evolution Pack included a Pikachu with number 001/010, only released in unlimited edition.
During the Battle Festa 2015 events a second Full Art Pikachu promo was given with number 175/XY-P. These events were held at Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Exhibition Hall (in Hiroshima) on November 3rd, 2015; Pacifico Yokohama (in Yokohama) on November 7th, 2015; Intex Osaka (in Osaka) on November 15th, 2015; and Nagoya Trade & Industry Center (in Nagoya) on November 29th, 2015.
An Event Organizer stamped version of this 175/XY-P Pikachu promo was also given to staff members during this season.
On December 11th, 2015 the Rage of the Broken Heavens set was released. Available only in 1st edition like the Blue Shock and Red Flash sets, it also didn’t included any Pikachu cards.
Starting December 12th, 2015, customers purchasing at least 1,000 Japanese Yen on Pokémon TCG products during the Pikachu Mega Campaign at participating Pokémon Centers throughout Japan were given the 203/XY-P Poncho-wearing Pikachu promo with Starfoil Holofoil pattern. The three Pikachu cosplay as Mega Audino, Mega Lucario, and Mega Slowbro.
On January 1st, 2016, the Mega Charizard X Poncho-wearing Pikachu Special Box and Mega Charizard Y Poncho-wearing Pikachu Special Box were released. Both contained the 206/XY-P Pikachu, which is a Starfoil Holofoil Pikachu promo that has the same artwork as the previous Collection X and M Master Deck Build Box Speed Style Pikachu cards. The Mega Charizard X box contains the 207/XY-P Full Art Poncho-wearing Pikachu promo and the Mega Charizard Y box contains the 208/XY-P Full Art Poncho-wearing Pikachu promo.
Another Mega Tokyo’s Pikachu promo was given to participants of the Pokémon Center Mega Battle + Creatures Challenge, held at all Japanese Pokémon Centers on January 16th and 17th, 2016. On January 1th, 40 participants of all ages could join one of three sessions, and on January 17th another 40 participants of elementary school or under could join one of three sessions. There were four venues for this event: Mega Tokyo, Tokyo Bay, Yokohama, and Osaka. Since each venue distributed 240 copies of this 204/XY-P Mega Tokyo’s Pikachu promo, only 960 copies of this card are known to be in circulation.
On January 29th, 2016 the PokéKyun Collection mini set was released. Much like the earlier Shiny Collection, this pink-logoed set with cute Pokémon artworks is trying to appeal the female audience of the Pokémon TCG. The artworks also all contain ribbons and charms at the left-hand side. This set, which was only released in 1st edition, does include a Full Art Pikachu card with number 010/032.
On February 27th, 2016, on the 20th Pokémon Day, the Starter Set of the BREAK era was released to celebrate this 20th anniversary milestone. This set, which was only released in unlimited edition, included a Pikachu with number 018/072.
An unnumbered XY-P Pikachu promo was given to the first 13,000 visitors to collabo mignon, a purikura photo booth store in 109, Shibuya (in Tokyo), which opened on March 12th, 2016. The artwork features an image of fashion model Nicole Fujita, who was involved with the collabo mignon launch campaign, as well as a female Pikachu drawn by illustrator Mizue. This card has the same holofoil pattern and set logo as the earlier mentioned PokéKyun Collection set, with an handwritten message by Nicole Fujita, which reads daisuki Nicole. This card was later available at locations hosting the Kamex Mega Battle throughout May 2016, given to people who took a photo at the PokéKyu Photo Spot present at each venue.
From March 16th, 2016 onward as long as stocks lasted, the 221/XY-P Okuge-sama and Maiko-han Pikachu promo with number 221/XY-P was given to customers who purchased at least five booster packs from Pokémon Center Kyoto in celebration of its opening. The card includes several references to the Kyoto and the Kensai region. The kuge were an aristocratic class integral to the establishment of Kyoto as the capital of Japan during the 8th century; maiko are apprentice geiko, young women in Kyoto who perform songs, dance, and play instruments. The honorific -han is also used in the Kensai dialect, as is the Welcome attack on the card: okoshi yasu.
Two days later on March 18th, 2016 the Awakening Psychic King set was released. This set didn’t included any Pikachu cards, but was once again released in both 1st and unlimited edition.
A month later on April 16th, 2016, the Premium Champion Pack was released. All cards in the set are Reverse Holos, and this set was only printed in unlimited edition. This set did include a Pikachu with number 036/131, which was another reprint of the artwork from the Collection X set, among others.
Next we had the Fever-Burst Fighter and Cruel Traitor sets on June 17th, 2016, which didn’t contained any Pikachu cards, but were released in both 1st and unlimited edition.
That same day, June 17th, 2016, the Pikachu Libre Special Pack was available exclusively at Pokémon Centers and Seven & I owned stores (i.e. 7-Eleven and Ito-Yokado). This Pikachu Libre 247/XY-P Holofoil promo features a cosplay female Pikachu Libre.
On July 6th, 2016 the Rayquaza Poncho-wearing Pikachu Special Box was released, celebrating the Pokémon Center opening of Skytree Town in Tokyo. This box contained the Poncho-wearing Pikachu 230/XY-P and 231/XY-P Full Art promos, where the 230/XY-P Pikachu is cosplaying as a regular Rayquaza and 231/XY-P as a shiny Rayquaza.
On July 16th, 2016 the Mythical & Legendary Dream Shine Collection mini set was released. This set was only released in 1st edition with all cards being Starfoil Holofoil, and didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Two Poncho-wearing Pikachu promos with numbers 274/XY-P and 275/XY-P were available to players who accumulated 3 Play Points by participating in events held as part of the Pokémon Center Mega Battle, which took place at participating Pokémon Centers and Pokémon stores on various dates between July 23rd and August 31st, 2016. The four Pikachu in the 274/XY-P artwork are cosplaying as Mega Gallade; Mega Rayquaza; Mega Ampharos; and Mega Mawile; and the three Pikachu in the 275/XY-P artwork are cosplaying as Mega Lopunny; Mega Diancie; and Mega Gardevoir.
Starting September 1st, 2016, special packs of Mini Egg Pan and Mini Melon Pan included a Pikachu promo with number 259/XY-P, featuring the Daiichi Pan Pokémon Pan logo at the top-right of the artwork. This artwork was a reprint of the original Vending Machine #00 Pikachu artwork to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon TCG.
On September 16th, 2016 another set was released to celebrate this: Pokémon Pack 20th Anniversary. This is the final set of the Japanese XY BREAK era, which was only printed in 1st edition. This set contained two Pikachu cards, a regular one with number 033/087, which was a reprint of the original Expansion Pack artwork; and a Full Art Pikachu EX Secret Rare with number 094/087.
That same day, September 16th, 2016, the 20th Anniversary Special Pack: M Slowbro-EX + Surfing Pikachu blister was released. This blister contained three packs from the set; three Slowbro promos: 262/XY-P Slowbro EX; 263/XY-P M Slowbro EX; and 265/XY-P Slowbro Spriti Link, as well as a Surfing Pikachu promo with number 264/XY-P, with an artwork that was a reprint of the original Surfing Pikachu artwork from 1997.
Starting that same day, the Trade Please Campaign 20th took place. Customers visiting Pokémon Centers, Pokémon stores, and Pokémon store outlets, as well as those attending the 20th Anniversary Festa venues in October 2016, could trade 20 Pokémon TCG cards featuring the old back with a member of staff whilst saying “Trade Please!” for one of two courses. The “A Course” included a 281/XY-P Pikachu non-Holo promo, with a reprint from the original Ivy Pikachu artwork from 1996, as well as a Trade Please! promo reprint. The “B Course” included a 280/XY-P Charizard Holofoil promo, also a reprint from 1998, as well as the same Trade Please! promo.
On October 10th, 2016 at Toki Messe (in Niigata) and October 23rd, 2016 at Nagoya Trade & Industry Center (in Nagoya) participants of the 20th Anniversary Festa were given the 279/XY-P Full Art Pikachu promo. This card also features the 20th Anniversary Festa event logo.
An unnumbered XY-P Reverse Holo Pikachu promo with an English written Mitsuhiro Arita printed signature and 20th Anniversary Festa logo, as well as a similar Mew promo, were awarded to players who acquired 12 Play Points from the various events of the 20th Anniversary Festa 2016. These events included the 20th Anniversary Battle; the Classic Battle; the Shōwa VS Heisei Battle; the Sylveon Girls Battle; the Shiftry Masters Battle; and the 3 on 3 Battle. An additional 6 Play Points were awarded to those who advanced to the Climax Stage in the 20th Anniversary Battle; 2 points were awarded for each win in the Shōwa VS Heisei Battle, with an additional 2 bonus points to each member of the winning team at the end of the competition; 3 points were awarded for each individual win in the 3 on 3 Battle, with 3 bonus points if a team managed to win all three in a row. The 20th Anniversary Festa was held at Toki Messe (in Niigata) on October 10th, 2016 and at Nagoya Trade & Industry Center (in Nagoya) on October 23rd, 2016.
On October 29th, 2016, the Mario Pikachu Special Box and Luigi Pikachu Special Box were available. The Mario box contains the 293/XY-P Mario Pikachu promo and 294/XY-P Mario Pikachu Full Art promo; and the Luigi box contains the 295/XY-P and 296/XY-P regular and Full Art Luigi Pikachu promos.
Since we had a reprint of the Surfing Pikachu as XY-P promo, the Flying Pikachu couldn’t be left out. On November 15th, 2016 a Flying Pikachu reprint with number 292/XY-P was included in the CoroCoro Aniki volume 7 magazine.
On November 18th, 2016 the new Sun & Moon era started. Simultaneously with the Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon video games, the Pikachu’s New Friends blister was released which contained four holofoil cards; one of each generation 7 starter, and the Pikachu with number 004/004.
Then from December 1st, 2016 we had the first SM-P Pikachu promo as long as stocks lasted. This Sapporo’s Pikachu with number 005/SM-P was given to customers who purchased at least five booster packs from any Pokémon Center, Pokémon store, or from the Pokémon Center Online in celebration of the reopening of the Pokémon Center in Sapporo.
On December 9th, 2016 the first SM era sets were released: Collection Sun and Collection Moon. From this set onward, Japanese sets were only released in unlimited edition, and 1st edition sets were a thing from the past for any Pokémon TCG language. These first two sets didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
That same day, the Pikachu SM1 Special Set blister was available at participating Circle K Sunkus, Daily Yamazaki, FamilyMart, Ministop, and Lawson stores, as well as Pokémon Centers. This blister included the 003/SM-P Pikachu holofoil promo.
Also from December 9th, 2016, exclusively available at Toys “R” Us stores in Japan, was the Toys “R” Us Limited GX Starter Set. This box contained three Sun & Moon Starter Sets for the three generation 7 starter evolution lines, and it also came with a holofoil 008/SM-P Pikachu and 009/SM-P Mimikyu promo.
Then on December 17th, 2016 the Pretend Grunt Pikachu Special Box was released, which contained the Pretend Team Skull Pikachu 013/SM-P Full Art promo and 014/SM-P Pretend Grunt Pikachu promo.
In January 27th, 2017 the Strength Expansion Pack Sun & Moon was released. This mini set was without Pikachu cards.
On February 1st, 2017 two more Poncho-wearing Pikachu promos were released with umber 037/SM-P and 038/SM-P. These came in the Alolan Vulpix & Vulpix Poncho-wearing Pikachu Special Box, and as the name suggest, the Pikachu were cosplaying as Alolan Vulpix and Vulpix respectively.
On March 17th, 2017 the Islands Await You and Alolan Moonlight sets were released. As mentioned earlier, all Sun & Moon era sets and beyond are only printed in unlimited edition. These sets had no Pikachu cards among them.
That same day, March 17th, 2017, the Pikachu Special Set was released. This blister contained two packs of each of these new sets, as well as a Holofoil Pikachu promo with number 044/SM-P.
Starting April 1st, 2017, customers who purchased five booster packs in one transaction at a Pokémon Center, Pokémon store, or the Pokémon Center Online website received a Pokémon Egg shaped piece of cardboard which contained one of four Pikachu Easter promo cards with numbers 054/SM-P through 057/SM-P, including an Easter’s Pikachu promo with number 055/SM-P.
On April 21st, 2017 the Facing a New Trial set was released, again without any Pikachu cards.
That same day, The Best of XY set was released. This set, as its name suggests, contained reprints of the XY and XY BREAK eras. All cards, with the exception of the Ultra Rare Mega and BREAK Pokémon, also had a Starfoil Reverse Holo variant. This set included a Pikachu with number 029/171, another reprint of the earlier Collection X Pikachu.
Also on that same day, April 21st, 2017, the Ash vs Team Rocket Deck Kit was released. This box contained two Half Decks, of which the Ash Half Deck had a 005/026 Full Art Ash’s Pikachu GX card.
Next we have the third Battle Festa Pikachu Full Art promo. On May 5th, 2017 at the Nagoya Trade & Industry Center (in Nagoya); on May 20th and 21st, 2017 at Makuhari Messe (in Chiba); and on May 28th, 2017 at Intex Osaka (in Osaka) the Battle Festa 2017 event took place, where participants received the Pikachu Full Art promo with number 061/SM-P.
This same artwork was reprinted with number 068/SM-P and a different stamp to participants of the 2017 Okayama Champion’s League, held at the Cooperative Okayama Prefecture Wholesale Center (in Okayama) on May 14th, 2017, and again to participants of the 2017 Champion’s League Final, held at the Sunshine City Convention Center in East Ikebukuro (in Toshima, Tokyo) on June 24th, 2017.
On June 16th, 2017 the To Have Seen the Battle Rainbow and Darkness that Consumes Light sets were released. The Darkness that Consumes Light set contained a Pikachu with number 013/051.
That same day, six Ash’s Pikachu promos were released with numbers 071/SM-P through 076/SM-P, each with a cap from a different region of the anime: 071/SM-P has the cap from the original Kanto region series; 072/SM-P has the cap from the Ruby & Sapphire series; 073/SM-P from the Diamond & Pearl series; 074/SM-P from the Black & White series; 075/SM-P from the XY series; and 076/SM-P from the Sun & Moon series. Starting June 16th, 2017, for every five booster packs purchased in one transaction at participating stores that were selling cinemas tickets for the I Choose You! movie, customers received a special pack containing one of these six possible promo cards. The participating stores included APiTA, Piago, ÆON, Ito-Yokado, Toys “R” Us, Fuji, HEIWADO, Pokémon Centers, and Pokémon stores. The campaign ran as long as stock lasted.
On June 30th, 2017 the Tohuku’s Pikachu Holofoil promo was released with number 088/SM-P, where Pikachu is cosplaying as Rowlet. Again, customers who purchased at least five booster packs from any Pokémon Center, Pokémon store, or the Pokémon Center Online website received this card, made to celebrate the reopening of the Pokémon Center in Tohoku.
One day later on July 1st, 2017, the Ho-Oh-GX Special Jumbo Card Pack was released. As the name suggests, this blister included a Jumbo Ho-Oh GX card, as well as three packs each from the earlier mentioned To Have Seen the Battle Rainbow and Darkness that Consumes Light sets, and an Ash’s Pikachu promo with number 086/SM-P.
Next on July 15th, 2017 the Shining Legends set was released. One of the few sets which has the same name in both English and Japanese. This Japanese set did include a Pikachu with number 029/072.
Between July 15th and August 31st, 2017, the Pokémon Card Gym Summer Festa 2017 event took place, a campaign for elementary school students and below, held at participating Pokémon Card Gym venues. All participants received a Pikachu promo with number 108/SM-P, with the Summer Festa 2017 logo at the bottom-right of the artwork. This artwork was a reprint from the earlier Darkness that Consumes Light Pikachu.
The week after on July 22nd, 2017, another promotion involving the purchase of five booster packs from a Pokémon Center, Pokémon store, or the Pokémon Center Online website was held, where customers received one of six promo cards with numbers 111/SM-P through 116/SM-P, including a Pikachu with number 114/SM-P, a reprint from the Pikachu’s New Friends blister card.
Then we had two more sets on September 15h, 2017: Awakened Heroes and Ultradimensional Beasts. The Ultradimensional Beasts set contained a Pikachu with number 015/050.
On October 20th, 2017 another special set containing reprints, with all cards as Reverse Holos, was released by the name GX Battle Boost. This set contained a reprint from the earlier Darkness that Consumes Light Pikachu card with number 028/114.
On December 8th, 2017 the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon sets were released, both without Pikachu cards.
Also starting on December 8th, 2017 as part of the Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon release campaign one of four possible cards were given to customers purchasing at least five booster packs. This time the store determined which promo you would receive: FamilyMart, Circle K, and Sunkus packs would contain the 169/SM-P Rowlet promo, and either a non-Holo or Reverse Holo Grass Energy promo with numbers 170/SM-P or 171/SM-P; 7-Eleven packs would contain the 172/SM-P Litten promo, and similarly a Fire Energy with numbers 173/SM-P or 174/SM-P; and Lawson packs would contain the 175/SM-P Popplio promo, and 176/SM-P or 177/SM-P Water Energy promos. The Pikachu promo with number 168/SM-P, was present in all these packs.
Also starting on December 8th, 2017, the Pokémon Card Friendly Shop campaign started. Participating stores gave customers who purchased for at least 1,500 Japanese Yen on Pokémon TCG products the 179/SM-P Holofoil promo Pikachu, as long as stock lasted. This artwork is a reprint from the earlier 044/SM-P Pikachu promo.
On January 19th, 2018 the next set was released by the name Ultra Force, without any Pikachu cards.
The next day on January 20th, 2018, the Team Rainbow Rocket’s Ambition campaign started. Customers purchasing at least five booster packs in a single transaction at the same stores as before would receive one of seven Pretend Boss Pikachu promo cards with numbers 191/SM-P through 197/SM-P. The 191/SM-P Pikachu is cosplaying as Team Rainbow Rocket’s Giovanni; 192/SM-P as Team Aqua’s Archie; 193/SM-P as Team Magma’s Maxie; 194/SM-P as Team Galactic’s Cyrus; 195/SM-P as Team Plasma’s Ghetsis; 196/SM-P as Team Flare’s Lysandre; and 197/SM-P as Team Skull’s Guzma. All of these cards had an unique squared holofoil pattern covering the entire front of the card.
On February 10th, 2018 the It’s Mimikyu Special Box was released, which contained a 198/SM-P Mimikyu and 199/SM-P Pikachu promo.
Next we have the Forbidden Light set on March 2nd, 2018, without any Pikachu cards. Just like the Shining Legends set, the English and Japanese sets share the same name.
Also starting March 2nd, 2018, another five booster pack purchase campaign started by the name Shining Ultra Beast Campaign, where customers received one of six promo cards with numbers 202/SM-P through 207/SM-P, including the 207/SM-P Pikachu.
(This card is rather special for me, since it marked the 1,000th Pikachu card I added to my Pikachu collection. )
On March 14th, 2018, to celebrate the opening of the Pokémon Center Tokyo DX, the Pokémon Center Tokyo DX Special Box was available for purchase, containing the 208/SM-P Hakama Pikachu and 209/SM-P Firefighter Pikachu promos. The 208/SM-P Hakama Pikachu is wearing a traditional female ceremonial dress, consisting of a furisode kimono and hakama, complete with a Bounsweet-themed kinchaku. The first attack in Japanese is gomen asobase, an overly polite way of saying “excuse me”, where the honorific asobase is often stereotypically associated with women of higher social standing, and rarely used in modern Japanese conversations. The 209/SM-P Firefighter Pikachu is wearing a traditional hikeshi (firefighter) outfit, estabilished during the Edo period following numerous of devastating fires. It comes with a Poliwhirl-themed matoi, a flag used to warn people of nearby fires.
That same day, and for the same reason (to celebrte the opening of the Pokémon Center Tokyo DX), customers who purchased at least five booster packs from this new Pokémon Center received either the 210/SM-P Gentlemanly Pikachu or 211/SM-P Cherry Blossom Afro Pikachu promo. The 210/SM-P Gentlemanly Pikachu promo is depicted wearing a high-class Ivy League-style attire, popular in Japan in the 1960’s, particularly in areas such as the Ginza district. The 211/SM-P Cherry Blossom Afro Pikachu represents hanami, a traditional custom of celebrating trees in bloom across the country, particularly the sakua (Cherry Blossom). The most popular place to celebrate this in Tokyo is Ueno Park, typically in late March.
In March, April, and May of 2018, another Pokémon Card Gym event took place, where participants received promotional packs containing one of seven promos with numbers 213/SM-P through 219/SM-P, including the 214/SM-P Pikachu.
On April 6th, 2018 the Dragon Storm set was released. This set didn’t included any Pikachu cards.
Also on April 6th, 2018, the Pokémon Card Friendly Shop campaign started. Customers who purchased for at least 1,500 Japanese Yen from participating stores would receive the 200/SM-P Pikachu promo.
On April 25th, 2018, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the first Pokémon Center, customers at Pokémon Centers, Pokémon stores, and the Pokémon Center Online website who purchased five booster packs would receive the 224/SM-P Pikachu promo.
On May 3rd, 2018 the Strength Expansion Pack Champion Road set was released, containing modernized reprints from the Neo, e-Series, ADV, and PCG eras. This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
The Sky-Splitting Charisma set of June 1st, 2018 had no Pikachu cards either.
Nor did the Thunderclap Spark set of July 6th, 2018.
Also starting July 6th, 2018, in another Pokémon Card Friendly Shop campaign similar as the previous ones, customers who purchased for at least 900 Japanese Yen on Pokémon TCG products would receive the 227/SM-P Pikachu promo.
On July 6th, 2018 as well, the Pikachu 2018 Special Set was released. This blister contained 1 Sky-Splitting Charisma booster pack, 1 Thunderclap Spark booster pack, and a promo Pikachu with number 242/SM-P. This blister was only sold at Pokémon Centers and 7-Eleven stores.
On July 13th, 2018 the GX Starter Decks were released. Nine decks were available, each with a different Type. The Lightning Raichu-GX Deck also contained a Pikachu with number 032/131, which was a reprint from the earlier Shining Legends Pikachu.
Starting two days later on July 15th, 2018 at participating Toys “R” Us stores, customers who purchased at least one of such GX Starter Decks could draw a random card from a box, which included the 262/SM-P Pikachu, 263/SM-P Tauros GX, and some Grass, Fire, Water, and Lightning energy cards, each featuring the Toys “R” Us logo.
On August 3rd, 2018 the Strength Expansion Pack Fairy Rise set was released, which as its name suggest primarily focused on Fairy-Type Pokémon, with some Grass- and Psychic-Type Pokémon, and a single Water-Type Pokémon. No Lightning-Type Pokémon were in the set, so it therefore also didn’t included any Pikachu cards.
Starting August 25th, 2018 as long as stock lasted, another five pack purchase campaign was held to continue the 20th Anniversary of the first Pokémon Center. Customers would receive the 270/SM-P Full Art Red’s Pikachu promo.
Then on September 7th, 2018 the Super-Burst Impact set was released, without any Pikachu cards.
The same applies to the Dark Order set of October 5th, 2018, despite heavily focusing on Dark, Metal, and Lightning-Type Pokémon (with two Fire and three Fighting-Type Pokémon mixed in).
Yet another Pokémon Friendly Shop campaign took place, starting in October 2018 for as long as stock lasted. Customers would receive the 249/SM-P after spending a certain amount on Pokémon TCG products. (The exact date nor exact amount that had to be spend I don’t know.)
On November 2nd, 2018 the GX Ultra Shiny set was released. This massive Japanese set contained 150 regular and Ultra Rare cards; 100 Secret Rare cards; and 125 Reverse Cracked Ice Holos, but none was a Pikachu.
On November 9th, 2018 the Pokémon Center Yokohama Special Box was available for purchase during the Riding on the Sea Breeze campaign, to celebrate the relocation and reopening of the Pokémon Center in Yokohama, which moved from the Landmark Plaza to Marui City. This box contained two Yokohama’s Pikachu promos with numbers 280/SM-P and 281/SM-P. The 280/SM-P Yokohama’s Pikachu features a Mild Pikachu on board of a Lanturn-themed submarine, and the 281/SM-P Yokohama’s Pikachu features a Bashful Pikachu on board of a Swanna-themed boat.
Between November 9th and December 2nd, 2018 for the same Riding on the Sea Breeze campaign, two more Yokohama’s Pikachu promos with numbers 282/SM-P and 283/SM-P were given to customers of the new Pokémon Center in Yokohama. The 282/SM-P Yokohama’s Pikachu featured from left to right a Mild, Impish, and Bashful Pikachu, all in mascot sailot outfits, and the 283/SM-P Yokohama’s Pikachu was an Impish Pikachu on board of a Wishiwashi (School Form) themed boat.
On November 23rd, 2018, Toys “R” Us stores started selling the Toys “R” Us Limited Eevee-GX Battle Triple Starter Set, which contained three Eevee GX Starter sets, as well as the 276/SM-P Pikachu, 277/SM-P Moltres, 278/SM-P Articuno, and 279/SM-P Zapdos.
From December 1st, 2018, five promo cards with number 291/SM-P through 295/SM-P, including 291/SM-P Pikachu, were included in special packs of Daiichi Choko & Custard Pan and Daiichi Bacon & Potato Pan products, each featuring the Daiichi Pan Pokémon Pan logo at the bottom-right of the artwork.
On December 7th, 2018 the Tag Bolt set was released. Tag Team cards, featuring two Pokémon in the same Ultra/Secret Rare, were the focus of this set, including four different Pikachu & Zekrom GX cards: an Ultra Rares with number 031/095; two Secret Rares with numbers 100/095 and 101/095; and a Hyper Secret Rare with number 112/095.
Accompanying this set on December 7th, 2018, ÆON stores started selling the Tag Bold Release Commemoration ÆON Limited Special Pack, which contained three Tag Bolt booster packs, one GX Ultra Shiny booster pack, and a Pikachu promo with number 307/SM-P and ÆON logo. This Pikachu was a reprint of the earlier 214/SM-P mentioned promo.
Between October 27th, 2018 and January 20th, 2019 there was a collaboration between the Pokémon Company and the Munch: A Retrospective exhibition, present at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. In that museum Edvard Munch’s The Scream painting from 1910 was displayed in Japan for the first time. Between December 10 and 16, 2018 during Pokémon Week, the 288/SM-P non-Holo Full Art Pikachu promo, drawn in a similar style and expression as the painting, was given to visitors. There are four more promos as celebration of this collaboration, released through various different means, which includes the 286/SM-P Psyduck; 287/SM-P Eevee; 289/SM-P Mimikyu; and 290/SM-P Rowlet.
Also somewhere in the Winter of 2018, although I have no idea when, a Pikachu & Zekrom GX Jumbo card was released, with a Let’s Play, Pikachu! and Let’s Play, Eevee! advertisement at the back of the card instead of the usual Pokémon back. This non-Holo Jumbo card was included in a CoroCoro Comic magazine, but I don’t know which volume and on which date it was released, because this card isn’t even mentioned on Bulbapedia.
Next on January 11th, 2019 we had the Night Unison set, including a Pikachu with number 014/055.
On February 1st, 2019 the Full Metal Wall set was released, without any Pikachu cards.
Same applies to the Double Blaze set the month after on March 1st, 2019.
Then on March 15th, 2019 the Sun & Moon Family Pokémon Card Game box was released, marketed at children and their families as a basic introduction to the TCG. This box contained three starter decks for Charizard GX, Raichu GX and Mewtwo GX. Some of the cards in the set had numbers on their, which are referenced to in the step-by-step guide that was included. This also applies to the 018/051 Pikachu, which is in the box both with and without the number 15.
Between March 16th and April 7th, 2019, customers who purchased anything from a Pokémon Center, Pokémon store, or the Pokémon Center Online webshop received the 325/SM-P Pretend Tea Ceremony Pikachu promo. This card was released as part of the Petal Dance Campaign, a celebration of the relocation and reopening of the Pokémon Center in Kyoto, which moved from Takashimaya to Economy Center Suina Muromachi. This artwork is a cropped and modified version of a larger artwork which was available on some other Pokémon products. Tea ceremonies in Japan have been a cultural activity for hundreds of years. The characters used in the cards name (茶会 chakai) refer to an informal tea gathering, usually with a light meal and confections. The Petal Gather attack is a reference to hanami, a traditional annual custom of celebrating trees in bloom across Japan as mentioned earlier. This Petal Dance Campaign coincided with this annual celebration for Kyoto in 2019.
Then on April 5th, 2019 we had the Strength Expansion Pack GG End set, which did contain a Pikachu with number 009/054.
Later that same month on April 26th, 2019 the Sky Legend set was released, this time without any Pikachu cards in it.
That same day, the Movie Special Pack Great Detective Pikachu mini set was released, with artworks from the Detective Pikachu movie that were already release din English the month prior. Obviously, this mini set contained a Detective Pikachu card as well, with number 014/024. All Commons and Uncommons in this Japanese set were released as Reverse Holos.
That same day (April 26th, 2019), the Detective Pikachu Special Jumbo Card Pack: Charizard GX Version blister was released, which was available to people who purchased special advance Detective Pikachu movie tickets from stores with Loppi ticket dispensers. People who purchased tickets between March 21st and April 14th, 2019 could redeem the blister from April 26th, 2019, while those who purchased tickets between April 15th and May 2nd, 2019 could redeem the blister from May 31st, 2019. This blister contained a Jumbo Charizard GX card, six Great Detective Pikachu booster packs, and a Reverse Holo Detective Pikachu promo with number 338/SM-P.
That same day a similar product was released: the Detective Pikachu Special Jumbo Card Pack: Mewtwo GX Version. These could be purchased at Pokémon Centers and ÆON, Lawson, and TSUTAYA stores. Some cinemas screening the Detective Pikachu movie also sold this blister on May 3rd, 2019. This blister contained three Great Detective Pikachu booster packs, three Sky Legend booster packs, a Jumbo Mewtwo GX card, and another Reverse Holo Detective Pikachu promo with number 339/SM-P.
Then the next week on May 3rd, 2019 when the movie was screened at Japanese cinemas, Detective Pikachu pamphlets could be purchased which included the 337/SM-P Detective Pikachu promo, this time a non-Holo one instead of Reverse Holo.
Next on May 31st, 2019 the Miracle Twin set was released, which didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
The Remix Bout set from July 5th, 2019 lacked Pikachu cards as well.
That same day, July 5th, 2019, to promote the upcoming Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution movie in cinemas (which was a CGI remake of the first movie), the Mewtwo & Mew GX Special Jumbo Card Pack was available for purchase, which included three Miracle Twin, three Remix Bout, a Jumbo version of Mewtwo & Mew GX that was also in the Miracle Twin set, and a 367/SM-P Pikachu promo.
On July 10th, 2019, another Pikachu promo featuring a screenshot from the Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution movie was included in the Deluxe Edition copies of the Together With the Wind CD. This CD contained five songs, and the Deluxe Edition also contained a DVD with three clips. This Holofoil Pikachu had number 369/SM-P.
August 2nd, 2019 was the day the Strength Expansion Pack Dream League set was released. This set contained two Pikachu cards, a regular one with number 016/049, and one for the new Character Secret Rarer unique to this set, with number 054/049. The Character Secret Rares in this set have all the Pokémon accompanied by a character in the artwork, which in Pikachu’s card is Red.
From that same day, August 2nd, 2019, the Lawson Summer Campaign started. For every five booster pack purchases in a Lawson store, customers would receive one of five promo cards, numbered 376/SM-P through 380/SM-P. This included both a non-Holo and Holofoil Pikachu promo with numbers 376/SM-P and 377/SM-P, which were reprints of the earlier 262/SM-P Pikachu promo.
On the weekends and holidays between July 20th and September 1st, 2019 the My251 Pokémon Center Midsummer Shining Grand Plan event took place, which saw appearances of mini attractions at select Pokémon Centers and Pokémon stores. The 392/SM-P Playing in the Sea Pikachu promo was given to customers who bought at least five booster packs from these stores, starting from August 2nd, 2019. This card could be redeemed up to four times per person, as long as stocks lasted. This surfing Pikachu was based on the key visual that was created for this Pokémon Surf campaign.
The 393/SM-P Full Art Pikachu GX promo was released as part of the BEAMS & Pokémon Card Game Collaboration Project. Customers who purchased for at least 2,400 Japanese Yen on BEAMS products would receive this card. Products could only be purchased to those who were drawn in a lottery held prior in the promotions, for which applications were open from July 25 to 28, 2019. The card was limited to two per person at BEAMS T Harajkuku stores, and could only be redeemed by children in elementary school and below. The Pokémon Center Online website also began distributing this card for purchase from August 6th, 2019 as long as stocks lasted, with a limit of one card per customer.
Starting on August 16th, 2019, the Limited Collection Master Battle Set could be preordered from Pokémon Centers, to mark the end of the Sun & Moon era. These boxes were 13,200 Japanese Yen each, and it was limited to five boxes per person. These were shipped in early December 2019 to all those who had ordered. The box contained TCG accessories with a black design, as well as the 400/SM-P Pikachu and 401/SM-P Alola Friends Full Art promos.
On September 6th, 2019 the Alter Genesis set was released, without any Pikachu cards.
Between September 20th and October 14th, 2019 as long as stocks lasted, the 407/SM-P Pretend Comedian Pikachu promo was given to customers of the Pokémon Center, Pokémon store, or Pokémon Center Online webshop for any purchase. This card was released as part of the Pokémon Center Osaka DX Open Commemoration Tailwind Campaign, which celebrated both the opening of the new Pokémon Center as well as the Pokémon Café in the Daimaru Shinsaibashi shipping center in Osaka. The characters in the card’s name (漫才 manzai), is a traditional style of stand-up comedy in Japanese culture often associated with Osaka. Manzai typically involves two performers; the Pikachu in the artwork are in blue suits, drawing inspiration from the comedy duo Kiyoshi Nishikawa and Yasushi Yokoyama, prominent in the 1970’s and 1980’s, and the more recent comedians Kazuhiro Unagi and Nao Hashimoto, themselves influenced by the former duo. A pair of Pikachu mascots wearing blue suits also appeared at Pokémon Center Osaka DX and Pokémon Center Osaka on select weekends and public holidays throughout the campaign period.
Then on October 4th, 2019 the High Class Pack: TAG TEAM GX: Tag All Stars set was released. Similar as The Best of XY set mentioned earlier, this set contained reprints of the Sun & Moon era, including the Pikachu & Zekrom GX Ultra Rare with number 041/173, as well as a Golden Secret Rare Pikachu & Zekrom GX with number 221/173.
Next we have the first Sword & Shield era promo: the 001/S-P Full Art Pikachu. This card was given to customers who purchased a copy of the Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield games between November 15th, 2019 and January 15th, 2020 at 7-Eleven stores, and two copies of this card were given to customers purchasing Pokémon Sword and Shield Double Pack during the same period.
On November 22nd, 2019, to celebrate the opening of the Pokémon Center in Shibuya, customers visiting any Pokémon Center or Pokémon store were given the Shibuya’s Pikachu promo with number 002/S-P, the first card with the new Sword & Shield era vertically diagonal holofoil pattern.
On November 29th, 2019 the V Starter Sets were released. These five starter decks are focusing on five of the eleven Pokémon Types, where the V Starter Set Lightning contained a non-Holo Pikachu with number 001/024. A Reverse Holo version of this Pikachu is also available, although I’m not sure how these were distributed.
Then on December 6th, 2019 the first sets of the era were released, and as was custom, with the same names as the era: the sets Sword and Shield. This set didn’t included any Pikachu cards.
Next we have the 024/S-P Pikachu promo. The promos 020/S-P through 026/S-P were awarded in promo packs to participants of the Pokémon Card Gym tournaments in December 2019, and January and February 2020.
Next on February 7th, 2020 we had the Strength Expansion Pack: VMAX Rising set, lacking any Pikachu cards.
The same applies to the Rebellion Crash set of March 6th, 2020.
Also starting from March 6th, 2020, at participating Geo stores, customers who purchased for at least 900 Japanese Yen worth of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue DX and Pokémon TCG products would receive the 036/S-P Rescue Team DX’s Pikachu promo.
Next we have the Strength Expansion Pack: xplosive Walker set on April 24th, 2020, again lacking any Pikachu cards.
Then on May 22nd, 2020 to celebrate the first network broadcast of the Detective Pikachu movie on Nippon TV, customers who purchased at least five booster packs in a single transaction, including at least one Great Detective Pikachu booster pack, from the Pokémon Center Online website would receive the 099/S-P Detective Pikachu promo. Customers who purchased a Great Detective Pikachu booster box would get four copies of this card. Physical Pokémon Centers and Pokémon stores had a similar promotion starting on June 13th, 2020, which were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Next we have the Infinity Zone set on June 5th, 2020, again without Pikachu cards.
The same also applies to the Strength Expansion Pack: Legendary Heartbeat set of July 10th, 2020.
That same day, July 10th, 2020, the nine V Starter Decks were available for purchase, each focusing on a different Pokémon Type again. The Lightning Pikachu V Deck obviously contained a Pikachu V card, with number 028/127. This Full Art Pikachu card was non-Holo.
Then on September 18th, 2020 the Amazing Volt Tackle set was released. As its name might suggest, it was focused on Pikachu, and therefore contained four Pikachu cards: two Ultra Rares Pikachu V with number 030/100 and Pikachu VMAX with number 031/100; a Secret Rare Pikachu V with number 104/100; and a Hyper Secret Rare Pikachu VMAX with number 114/100. The Pikachu VMAX display the Gigantamax form of Pikachu.
Simultaneously with the set on September 18th, 2020, the Amazing Volt Tackle Gigantic Pack Set was released. This pack resembling an oversized booster pack contained five regular Amazing Volt Tackle booster packs, a coin, and the Pikachu V Holofoil promo with number 121/S-P, which was a reprint of the Pikachu V from the V Starter Deck.
Also starting that same day, the PikaPika! Pikachu! Campaign started. For every six Amazing Volt Tackle purchases customers would receive a special pack containing one of five possible Pikachu promo cards with numbers 122/S-P through 126/S-P. The 122/S-P Pikachu V, 123/S-P Pikachu VMAX, and 124/S-P Pikachu contained new artworks, and the 125/S-P and 126/S-P Pikachu were reprints from the Night Unison and Dream League Pikachu cards.
Then starting on August 7th, 2020, the Forest of Okoya Celebi & Zarude Special Advance Ticket 7-Eleven Set could be preordered at 7-Eleven Stores, in anticipation of the Secret of the Jungle movie on December 25th. The box included a serial code to redeem a ticket for the movie; a gift guide; seven booster packs; and a Holofoil Swallowed Up Pikachu promo with number 105/S-P. Boxes began to be shipped on December 18th, 2020.
Starting August 28th, 2020, one of five promo cards with numbers 129/S-P through 133/S-P were given to customers at Lawson stores who purchased at least three Pokémon TCG products, including at least a V Starter Deck, called the Lawson V Start Campaign. The five promos included a Pikachu with number 132/S-P, which was a reprint from the earlier 024/S-P Pikachu promo.
Next we had the High Class Pack Shiny Star V set on November 20th, 2020. Similar as the GX Ultra Shiny set, it was a massive set with 190 regular and Ultra Rare cards; 140 Secret Rare cards; and 163 Reverse Holo cards (with an unique Reverse Holo pattern not seen on other cards yet). This set didn’t contained any Pikachu cards.
Also on November 20th, 2020, to celebrate the opening of the Pokémon Center in Kanazawa, customers who visited any Pokémon Center or Pokémon store would receive the 144/S-P Kanazawa’s Pikachu promo. The female Pikachu in the artwork wears a kimono with a Temari motif, typical for the former Kaga Province.
That same day, a Kanazawa’s Pikachu promo with the same artwork with number 147/S-P was included alongside the 145/S-P Milotic and 146/S-P Sobble in the Pokémon Center Kanazawa Open Commemoration Special Box. This box contained a whopping nineteen booster packs; a set of 64 sleeves; and the three earlier mentioned Reverse Holo promos.
Two months later on January 22nd, 2021, the Single Strike Master and Rapid Strike Master sets were released, both without any Pikachu cards.
The Peerless Fighters set of March 19th, 2021 didn’t contained any Pikachu cards either.
Nor did the Silver Lance & Jet-Black Spirit sets on April 23rd, 2021.
Between May 8th and August 7th, 2021 as long a stocks last, a Jumbo Pokérun TV’s Pikachu & Friends Jumbo is given at Pokémon Centers to customers who purchase three or more booster packs. This promotion is only available at physical Pokémon Center stores, and not on their online website. The artwork is drawn by Tokichan, one of the hosts of the Pokérun YouTube channels, depicturing the favorite Pokémon of the three hosts.
On May 28th, 2021 the Strength Expansion Pack: Eevee Heroes was released. As the name suggests, it focuses on the many Eeveelution cards, with V and VMAX cards. This set contains a Pikachu with number 026/069.
And finally on July 9th, 2021, which is actually the day I’m writing this, the Sword & Shield Family Pokémon Card Game was released, with three starter decks, including a Pikachu V Deck. This Pikachu V deck contained both a Holofoil and non-Holo version of the 019/053 Pikachu V Full Art card. Here is a placeholder image for now, since these are currently incoming:
And many more Japanese Pikachu cards will no doubt release any day now, some of which have already been announced.
So, there you have it. One huge-ass overview of all Japanese Pikachu card releases, of which I’m currently missing just out of 6 out of 333: the 1998 glossy Ivy Pikachu reprint; four out of six Art Academy Pikachu promos; and the Photo Contest 1999 SNAP Pikachu.
Phew, I’m glad that’s over… Taking all these pictures, and especially writing everything above took a couple of weeks to complete. This is by far the largest Pikachu around the World part, which is not surprising since Japan is the origin of Pokémon. Not sure when I’ll do the next part, but it probably won’t be too soon. My hands need to recover from all the typing, rofl…
PS: FYI, this post is 1061 lines long. 
PPS: If someone dares to quote this entire post to make a comment I’ll report you for spam… 
Greetz,
Quuador